Since then, Brakes, which is based at the Eureka Business Park
in Ashford, has had 259 negative results returned.

But one product - a Brakes spicy minced beef skewer - was found
to contain between one and 10% horse DNA.

The statement said it had also "segregated a frozen burger as a
precaution after equine DNA at 1% was reported to the Foods
Standards Agency."

A spokesman said: "Brakes and Creative Foods are very
disappointed to have been let down by our respective suppliers and
have sincerely apologised to our customers.

"As any responsible company, we have a duty of care to all our
customers and the consumers they serve to guarantee the integrity
of the products we purchase."

Last month the firm announced it had set up an urgent
investigation after the first finding.

Brakes is a long-standing Kent firm, founded by the Brake
brothers in 1958 in Lenham.

It was sold in 2007 in a private equity deal to Cucina Lux
Investments.

It supplies food to schools, hotels and restaurants.

Brakes said it had put in a number of measures to ensure the
highest standards, which included continued testing, stopping the
sale of products found to contain horsemeat before they enter the
supply chain where possible and reviewing the firm's supply
chain.